When Apple introduced macOS Monterey in 2021, several significant features were exclusive to Macs with Apple silicon. This trend continued with macOS Ventura in 2022 and macOS Sonoma the following year. With the upcoming release of macOS Sequoia, Intel Mac users are once again facing limitations on new features.
Apple has confirmed that macOS Sequoia will support the same models as macOS Sonoma. However, some new features will not be available on Intel-based machines. Here’s what Intel Mac users can expect to miss out on.
Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence, a comprehensive and personalized AI feature set leveraging advanced generative artificial intelligence, will not be accessible on Intel Macs. Apple states that these features require at least an M1 chip, making them unavailable to Macs released before November 2020.
Delayed Features Until 2025
Live Audio Transcription
The live audio transcription feature in Apple Notes allows users to record audio sessions and generate searchable transcriptions that can be integrated with other documents, checklists, or notes. This feature is restricted to Macs with Apple silicon.
Additional Missing Features
Surprisingly, there are no other significant features withheld from Intel Mac users in macOS Sequoia. Users with supported Intel Macs will still have access to various new functionalities, such as:
- Scheduled message sending
- Integration of Reminders with Calendars
- A standalone Passwords app
- Window tiling
- iPhone Mirroring for Macs with a T2 Security Chip
For a comprehensive overview, refer to our macOS 15 roundup.
Supported Mac Models
macOS Sequoia supports the same Mac models as macOS Sonoma, which include:
- MacBook Air (2020 and later)
- MacBook Pro (2018 and later)
- iMac (2019 and later)
- Mac Mini (2018 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019 and later)
- Mac Studio (2022 and later)
To verify your Mac model, click the Apple icon in the menu bar and select About This Mac. macOS Sequoia is currently available in developer beta, with a public beta expected later this month, followed by a general release in the fall.
